| I can honestly say this Bank Holiday/Easter weekend has been the toughest of all the weekends during my marathon training programme. Who planned the marathon to be so close to this! All I have wanted to do is eat lots of chocolate and drinks lots of alcohol...! I am not a big drinker, I enjoy a sociable drink with friends every now and again, and before marathon training probably had a classic 'binge drinking' night out maybe once every couple of months, or if it was a birthday or similar occasion. Likewise with food, I eat healthily the majority of the time anyway, enjoying the odd sweet treat (usually chocolate, often Malteasers or Dairy Milk Daim!) now and again. But all this aside, I found this weekend a massive struggle. Since January I have probably had about three glasses of wine (all at social meals) and three ciders (post Lincoln 10k), and I have been relatively luckily that no occasions, parties or events have occurred which I have been invited to and then had to awkwardly fit running around or attend feeling wracked with guilt. I am also luckily to have a very understanding and supportive friend around me who has not peer pressured me into a spontaneous Saturday night trip into town! But a four day Bank Holiday weekend has proved slightly different. My social media streams have been filled with people either drinking with friends or getting glammed up for a big night out, as well as posting copious amounts of Easter theme chocolate treats! Although at 23 I would still be classed by many as 'young', I am a bit old before my time - within my house I have the nickname of 'Nan' which gives you some idea of my role! But I suddenly felt the desire to act my age and just hit the town - which for someone who has been so committed to marathon training for the past months was a bit of a shock. However my commitment did not wain and I managed to find a (sort of) happy medium to get through the weekend. Friday I spent the evening with friends, sipping pineapple juice whilst they enjoyed wine, but did allow myself to have a chippy tea and some sweet treats so not to be totally removed from any form of fun! |  Saturday night my friend's sister came to visit and we took her for drinks in town, so at least I had an opportunity to get a bit dressed up and not be photographed in running gear for once this year (see photos). Again I stuck to pineapple juice - I am actually surprised I have not turned into a pineapple the amount I consumed! Sunday was the night where everyone seemed to be doing something - the excitement of having no work on a Monday proving too much to handle. After my long run in the morning I was quite bored by the late afternoon/evening (too much time off work already!), as was my friend. Any other year we would have probably joined the masses and donned our heels and dresses ready for a night out, but I restrained. Instead I opted for a night of watching Casualty on the BBC iPlayer (I was not joking when I said I was old before my time...!) So my Bank Holiday has not been what it could have been, but I am proud my commitment to the marathon has held strong. With three weeks to go I would have probably been extremely annoyed with myself today if I had let it slip! I am now just looking forward to the big celebration I am going to have post marathon - when I will definitely have something to celebrate! |
